The National Bureau of Crime Investigation (Kripos)’s reporting to the Ministry of Justice and the Norwegian Police Directorate in the years 1999-2002 provided inadequate information in relation to the set performance requirements. For example, the reporting gives the impression that more cases were handled within the targeted time than was in fact the case.

Published
1/16/2004 12:00 PM

Brødtekst

The Office of the Auditor General’s investigation, Document no. 3:5 (2003-2004), which was submitted to the Storting on 19 January, is an analysis and assessment of the use of resources and achievement of objectives in Kripos. Matters linked to development aid, international work, intelligence, transfer of competencies and the management dialogue between Kripos and its superior authority were also analysed and assessed.

The audit revealed that there is a large potential for further development of the management and reporting systems used in Kripos. For example, in 2001, Kripos reported 98 % achievement of objectives in drugs cases, whereas the Office of the Auditor General’s analysis indicated that achievement of objectives was 22 %. Kripos used the same method of reporting throughout the whole period covered by the audit (1999–2002). The Norwegian Police Directorate was not aware of the method of calculation Kripos used in its reporting. Further, Kripos did not distinguish between time needed to process custody cases, high priority cases and low priority cases in the information management system OMNIS, as is required.

Since the audit started, several measures have been implemented to improve the quality of the Kripos’ work. These measures are being followed up by the Norwegian Police Directorate and the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry stated that they are concerned about the matters revealed and agree that the reporting method used by Kripos does not provide correct information about time used to process cases. A working committee is going to be formed to assess whether the police services’ case processing system (BasisLøsning) shall also be introduced in Kripos.

This report is available in Norwegian on the Office of the Auditor General’s website – www.riksrevisjonen.no – or can be ordered from the University bookshop Akademika, tel. +47 22 11 67 70